by Mary Tate
Over the last several weeks, much of my time has been committed to leading assessments in the designated communities. We conduct on-site assessments in years one, three and five of the designation period. The intention of the assessment is to gauge the progress of the program, ensure that you are achieving what you set out to do, and have an opportunity to candidly speak to board, committee and staff members regarding their successes and challenges. In no way should an assessment be an intimidating process or weigh heavily on a manager. Our staff, along with the DCED regional directors, are here to provide you with guidance, connect you to resources, and offer insight where we see a need. We are all in this together, and our goal is to make sure that you are taking full advantage of funding opportunities and technical assistance so that you can make as much progress as possible.
I’ve had the opportunity to partake in dynamic, and at times, eye-opening conversations related to race, culture, and economic and social stability. All communities have needs, regardless of socio-economic status or urban/suburban character. Those needs may vary greatly, but ultimately, we all want to improve the quality of life in the places we live. This requires us to listen to each other and develop a way to work together. Thank you for allowing me to be a part of these conversations and witness the outstanding work that you all continue to do.
Communities who recently
exited their program designation:
Ardmore Initiative
Easton Main Street Initiative
Main Street Hanover
Mt. Lebanon PARTNERSHIP
West Chester Business Improvement District
Currently designated programs:
Building a Better Boyertown
Castle Shannon Revitalization Corp.
City of Allentown – Seventh Street Development Committee
Clearfield Revitalization Corp.
Danville Business Alliance
Downtown Bedford Inc.
Downtown Bellefonte Inc.
Downtown Hazleton
Alliance for Progress
Downtown Lebanon Business Improvement District
Downtown Lewistown, Inc.
Downtown Shenandoah Inc.
Erie Downtown Partnership
Explore Sewickley
Lansdowne Economic Development Corp.
Lewisburg Downtown Partnership
Main Street Gettysburg
Quakertown Alive!
Salem Square Community Association – York
Spanish American Civic Association – Lancaster
The Enterprise Center – 52nd Street
Wilkensburg Community Development Corp.